Chapter 41: The Weight Of Command

A day has passed since the alliance was formed between all the Tribes and humans. Aegis city though destroyed is serving as the main headquarter of the alliance.

All around different Tribe members are helping around humans, be it in training, making food or just normal work.

Xior, Becca and Alice sit inside a tent, multiple pieces of papers in front of them as they’re keeping record of everything.

Rabbit Tribe members are coming and exiting in quick successions as Wolves tell Xior about their scouting missions along the Eagles.

Becca is handling the setting up of hidden traps for the Dragons even though they might not even work, but they have to try at least.

Alice steals glances at Xior’s writing and handing the papers to the Wolves and smiles to herself. She had a heart to heart moment with him.

She was happy that he confided in her, thought of her as someone he could rely on. Then she looked at Becca, she too was looking at him just like herself.

Alice knew all about it, the little girl whom he safeguarded was now a woman who looked up to him and maybe something more.

In her teens she couldn’t experience anything due to the tragedy hence she was conflicted. If push came to shove, then Alice decided she would help these two in understanding each other more.

They finished their work and got up and moved out of the tent.

They see the Wolf blacksmiths hammering weapons on one side, on another side Rabbit artisans were busy reinforcing armor.

Not far away Lions were training everyone with sparring matches as Eagle scouts flew over them.

The ones who were not helping contributed in other ways. A Rabbit soldier kneeled down and gave his daughter a luck charm.

A Lioness tied a bone necklace around her mate’s neck as she whispered prayers. This was nothing like the conflict between the Tigers and the Wolves.

This was their final stand against oppression. All around silent tears fell among quiet embraces. No one knew if they’d return.

Alice broke from the group and went to the Rabbit artisans while Becca and Xior went towards the place to be teleported out of the tower.

*****

They arrive outside the tower and immediately go separate ways. Xior wanted to go meet with the kids once more while Becca needed to talk to Maria.

She somewhat knew what kind of relationship Maria and Rain were in, so she had to not tell her about what happened to Rain.

Xior took a quick airship towards the west block of New Federation and walked to the new house he had bought.

He rang on the doorbell and was greeted by one of the younger ones, a seven year old girl named Sophia.

Her parents died in a car crash when she was two, ever since then she had lived with them in the shelter.

Xior didn’t waste a single second and scooped her into his arm and raised her in the air. She giggled which brought a slight smile to his face. He was never apathetic but the past five years had changed him a lot.

He went from an orphan boy fed up of life only being driven by Becca and the kids, now was someone who wanted to live just some more so that he could spend time with them and cherish them all.

He enters the house and all of the kids greet him. “Welcome back big brother Xior.”

“Why are you back so quickly?” One asked.

“Where is big sister Becca?” Another asked.

But he didn’t answer them, he got on his knees and opened his arms wide, the kids saw this and ran towards him and embraced him like he did.

Becca and them, they were his family. After a small heartfelt moment Xior sat on the couch surrounded by the other kids.

The caretaker sat on a rocking chair on his left. “Xior dear, is something the matter?” She asked.

Xior looks at her, his expression tells her everything without him saying anything. She smiles and nods. “My boy, you’re strong don’t forget that. And I know whatever it is you will push through it like always. So, for now don’t think too much of that, let me get you some of the ’special soup’ I make.” She said as he got up from the rocking chair and went to the kitchen.

“Big brother Xior is your mission dangerous this time?” A boy asked, he was twelve years old.

“Yes it is, well all of them are dangerous. This one a little bit more.” Xior replies as he pats the boys head.

The caretaker comes back with soup and the kids help her set the table. They eat together like they used to back at the shelter. But now it was time for Xior to leave.

He grabbed a new pair of clothes from his closet and put it in a bag. He stood at the front door as he hugged each of the kids one more time.

As he starts to walk towards the city drenched in darkness he turns and says, “When I come back, teach me how to beat you at stones. I won’t forgive you if you get better while I’m gone.”

Then unexpectedly Sophie blurted out, “But…what if you don’t come back?” Her voice tense and full of sadness.

“Then I’ll haunt you until you tidy your bed every morning.” He says to lighten the mood.

As he disappears in the darkness the children go back inside. Xior walks under the dimly lit street lights as the recent events play inside his mind.

He didn’t understand some things happening within him, but still he needed to not think of those for now. His objective was the Dragon Tribe right now.

Rain’s plan played in a loop inside his mind, he didn’t think it would come to this. That he would have to bear the weight of command on his shoulders.

In the distance the Dragon Guild building could be seen as just at the entrance two women stood there. Becca had two bags full of equipment she brought from the treasury and Maria on her side who looked at her with a confused expression.

But little did she know that these things were a part of Rain’s plan against the Dragon Tribe. He had been preparing for a long time for this and it was finally the time for them to pay.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep